Mapua University head coach Randy Alcantara was glad to see his bench players give their starters more than enough help as the Cardinals pulled off a 67-47 lopsided win over Arellano University on Wednesday.
Mapua’s second stringers produced 44 points against Arellano’s 23 with Joaqui Garcia and Rence Nocum leading the bench effort.
Garcia listed 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting from downtown while veteran Nocum registered an all-around statline of 10 markers, nine rebounds, and five assists to steer Mapua to its fourth straight win.
“Number one, 'yung aggressiveness, makikita mo talaga sa body language ng mga players eh. Sabi ko nga, kung 'yung starters nagpakita ng ganyan, 'yung second unit at third unit, ay kailangan mahiya naman kayo doon sa nag-start na gano'n 'yung energy,” Alcantara said.
“So naghawa-hawa na at 'yun nga nakapag-perform sila nang maayos.”
Usual starters in Paolo Hernandez, Jeric Pido, and Toby Agustin were also on target as Hernandez dropped eight points alongside five markers each from the other two.
“Itong mga players na 'to, gustong-gusto nilang bumawi. 'Yung peak, hindi ko masasabi pero tingin ko 'yung timing lang talaga eh.”
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
